The 2026 NFL season is nearing closer and closer with each passing day! This offseason, the staff here at Last Word on NFL came together to vote on the top NFL players heading into the 2026 season. This was a collaborative effort between 19 writers, three editors, and two Site Managers.
Each person submitted an anonymous ballot ranking the top 50 players in the league. In order to determine the final consensus rankings, the first-place player earned 50 points, the second-place player earned 49, and so forth, all the way to number 50. There was a bit of a consensus at the top, but as we got further and further down, there was a wide variety of selections. But at least our methodology (having all 24 voters rank 50, rather than just 10 like the “official” NFL 100 does…) is sound.
So, without further ado, let’s kick off the Last Word on NFL Top 50 players heading into the 2026 season!
Last Word on NFL Top Players Heading Into 2026: 41-50
Just Missed (earned at least 100 points): Caleb Williams, Lane Johnson, Sauce Gardner, Jalen Carter, Nick Bosa, A.J. Brown, George Pickens, Trey Hendrickson, Nik Bonitto, Nico Collins, Quinnen Williams, Jalen Hurts, Chris Lindstrom
50. Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
Kicking off our top 50 is the young, dynamic quarterback in the nation’s capital. Jayden Daniels comes in as QB9 in our rankings (spoiler alert) after an injury-shortened 2025. He burst onto the scene as the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024 after throwing for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns to just nine interceptions, leading the Commanders back to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
He came up just short in the NFC Championship in his Pro Bowl rookie year, so last year was a massive disappointment. A fully healthy Daniels is good for football and great for the Commanders. In an uber-competitive NFC East, he’s going to need to have a big year.
49. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys
Heavy is the head that wears the Star. Dak Prescott is perhaps the most scrutinized quarterback in the NFL, a side-effect of playing for the Dallas Cowboys. While his playoff performances have left much to be desired (14:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio in seven playoff games), there’s no denying he’s a solid regular-season quarterback.
After seeing his 2024 season end due to injury, Prescott got back to his regular self, throwing for a career-high 4,552 yards and 30 touchdowns. For the second time in his career, he led the way in passing attempts, and it was his fourth time throwing for at least 30 touchdowns in a year.
Expectations are once again high for Prescott and the Cowboys. Will they deliver?
48. De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
The darling of many fantasy football managers, De’Von Achane is the meme of a sports car sitting in the carport of a run-down house.
For the first time in his career, Achane eclipsed 1,000 yards last year with 1,350. He also tied his career best with eight touchdowns. However, as anyone who has watched him knows, he’s more than just a running back; he’s an offensive weapon. Last year, he hauled in 67 passes for 488 yards and four touchdowns. The year prior, he caught 78 for 592 yards and six touchdowns.
Achane is a top-tier dual-threat. He had the sixth-most yards from scrimmage last year, and he led the league with 5.7 yards per carry.
47. George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
Heading into his age-33 season, George Kittle is still doing it. The seven-time Pro Bowl, two-time All-Pro has been one of the best tight ends in the NFL since his 2018 breakout campaign.
Last year, he battled injuries, but still amassed 628 yards and seven touchdowns on 57 receptions. Those 628 yards were his fewest since his rookie season, which isn’t saying much considering he went over 1,000 yards four times in his impressive career.
46. Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
The next quarterback on our rankings is the oft-debated “if” man, Justin Herbert. The 2020 Offensive Rookie of the Year has shown that he has all of the tools to be a great quarterback, but is still not respected as such. It could be due to that 27-0 blown lead in the playoffs, but who knows.
Last year, Herbert brought the Chargers back to the playoffs after throwing for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns. However, he turned it over 13 times and went 19-of-31 for 159 yards and no touchdowns in the playoff loss to the New England Patriots. Not every quarterback is built to overcome six sacks, it seems.
45. Jordan Mailata, OT, Philadelphia Eagles
Finally, an Eagles offensive lineman. As part of the NFL’s top tackle duo, Jordan Mailata has been one of the elite tackles in the NFL for a while now. Ranked as the fourth-best tackle in football by executives, coaches, and scouts, it seems the NFL is more than aware.
Each of the grading systems we use loved his 2025. According to PFF, he had the third-best overall grade in the NFC East with an 83.4 grade. PFSN’s OLi had him fourth-best in overall (83.9) and run-blocking (85.5), while he posted a 79.7 pass-blocking grade.
His story is legendary. He had never played a snap of American football prior to being selected in the 2018 NFL Draft; he had only played rugby.
Somehow, he’s never earned a Pro Bowl or first-team All-Pro nod. Just goes to show how quality the tackle play is in the NFC.
44. James Cook, RB, Buffalo Bills
Coming in at 44, it’s the star running back for the Bills, James Cook. Last year, while folks knew how good Cook was, he took it to another level. In 17 games, on 309 carries, Cook led the NFL with 1,621 yards and 12 touchdowns. The year before, he led the way with 16 rushing touchdowns.
He may not be as explosive as Achane as a receiver, but he averages nine yards per catch thus far, and has totaled 1,174 yards.
Despite all of the debate on paying running backs, the Bills rewarded Cook with a four-year, $48 million contract this offseason. He’s one of the best offensive weapons in the league, and he’s tied to the Bills through 2029.
43. Garett Bolles, OT, Denver Broncos
One of the best offensive linemen, regardless of alignment, Garett Bolles has shown massive growth in his time with the Broncos.
To date, Bolles has started all 133 games in which he played, and was an All-Rookie honoree in 2017. However, he’s coming off his best season as a pro. In 2025, he earned his first Pro Bowl nod, as well as his first first-team All-Pro selection.
His 90.8 pass-blocking grade (via PFF) was the best in the NFL, and he only allowed 19 pressures and six quarterback hits on 1,126 snaps. That includes zero sacks.
42. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles
A corner with no career regular-season interceptions, making our list as well as the All-Pro in 2025, has to be pretty good, right? Toledo product Quinyon Mitchell has been every bit worth the first-round capital spend on him in 2024 despite the lack of regular-season turnovers.
Last year, he posted a near-identical stat line for the Eagles with 45 tackles, 17 pass breakups, and one fumble recovery.
However, it’s what he did in the playoffs that really showed what he’s made of. In the Super Bowl-winning run, Mitchell hauled in a pair of interceptions and broke up four passes. Last year, in just one game, he added two more interceptions with three pass breakups and a forced fumble.
41. Dexter Lawrence, DT, Cincinnati Bengals
Rounding up this section of our countdown is none other than Sexy Dexy himself. Dexter Lawrence has been a menace from the interior defensive line for seven seasons. In his career, Lawrence has earned three Pro Bowl selections as well as two second-team All-Pros. From his defensive tackle position, he has amassed 341 tackles, 40 tackles for loss, 103 quarterback hits, and 30.5 sacks.
Now, he’s a Bengal. Instead of sticking and picking in the draft, Cincinnati sent off its 10th-overall pick to New York for one of the best defensive tackles in the game.
Last year, he only managed 0.5 sacks, but he does more than just sack quarterbacks. He’s an elite run defender who warrants double teams, even against the best offensive linemen. As a pass rusher, he had the sixth-best pass-rush win rate and is on his own tier when lined up as a nose tackle.
Since 2022, Lawrence has 108 pressures when aligned as a nose tackle…the next closest is Vita Vea with 32.
